York Appoint New Manager And Sporting Director

York City have appointed Martin Gray as their new first team manager with Dave Penney becoming the club’s new sporting director.

Gray resigned from York’s National League North rivals Darlington to take the job, having spent five years with the Quakers.

York owner Jason McGill said: “We need a new approach at the football club. We need to work hard, entertain our supporters, be professional and, most importantly, win games.

“In Martin Gray, we have identified a manager who has consistently achieved impressive results without the benefit of the resources and infrastructure that he will have at his disposal here.

“Before appointing Martin, we spoke to a number of leading figures in the game who have the best interests of York City at heart. One of those was Steve McClaren who felt York City should give serious consideration to appointing Martin Gray – if and when they were ever looking for a new manager.

“After speaking to Martin, I was immediately impressed with his views on football management. He is ambitious and talented and I feel he deserves an opportunity at a full-time club that has serious ambitions to return to the EFL.”

On Penney’s appointment as sporting director, McGill said: “Dave is someone with an abundance of experience at various levels of the game, who understands scouting and recruitment, and who has excellent contacts in the game.

“He will be responsible for the overall performance of the various sporting departments at the football club.

“For clarity, I can confirm that the sporting director will not pick the team. He will ‘assist’ but not lead training or determine tactics. The manager will also have the final say on all signings.”

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Social media and content for the National League and Pitchero Non-League. Covers Woking FC for the Woking News and Mail. Freelance journalist for The Non-League Paper, Surrey Advertiser/GetSurrey and others. University of Brighton Sport Journalism graduate.